Drop-end gondola car.



S. H. MICHAELS. DROP END eomoou CAR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I. I91].

1 ,284,41 3 Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Z4 I 77 714 A I '1 I R a. v

S. H. MICHA'ELS. DROP END GONDOLA CAB- APPLICATION/FILED AUGJ. 19!].

1,284,413. PatentedNov. 12, 19.18.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.--

SIDNEY H. MICHAELS. OF OAK PARK. ILLINOIS, 'ASSIGNOR TO WALTER P. MURPHY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DROP-END GoNnoLA CAR.

drop end gondola cars. and more particu ""larly' to the end structure in a car of this type.

' Drop end gondola cars are used for the transportation of a variety ofcargoes. They may be used. as the ordinary gondola car is used,.for material in. bulk,such as coal, sand or'gravel; or, with the end panels folded down upon the flooring of the car, they may be employed for the transportation of long timbers, girders, rails, or freight of this character.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide, in a drop end gondola car, means for hinging the end panel or folding end of thecar to the body of the car, whereby, when the car is used for bulk freight, the hinge will not be clogged by the material with which the-car is loaded. It has been custom ary to cut away the flooring at the end of the car to form a recess for the lower edge of the end panel and its hinges; This recess is likely to become filled, when bulk freight of pulverulent or granular materialis carried, so as to clog the hinge and make it difiicult to fold down the end of the car when re-' quired. My invention provides an arrangement whereby the end rests directly on the floor, which latter' extends out to the end framing of the car, the end being hinged by devices so constructed and disposed that they cannot become clogged.

A further object isto provide a hinge for :the folding end-panel of a drop bottom car, which will be very strong and durable and.

will consist of a few parts of simple construction. Another object is to construct and arrange the parts of the hinge so as to face the end pane A further object of the invention is .to provide an improvement upon the construction of the end panel in a car of this type, whereby this part of the car will be very strong, rigid and durable to withstand the rou' h handling to which it is'necessarily 'mil'nanteri when the car is in service.

Specification of Letters Patent.

The invention consists in the novel andimproved constructions, arrangements and devices. to be hereinafter described .and claimed, for carrying out the above stated objects and such other incidental objects as will appear from the following description. The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is an end elevation of a gondola car constructed in accordance with the in-' vention. V

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Pate11ted-Nov".12,.1918.

Application filed August 1, 1917. Serial No. 183,878.

Fig. 3 is a. detail sectional view on line of Fig. '1. 11 I Fig. 4: is a plan view of one corner of the car.

- Fig. 5 is a View, in perspective, of one of the keeper plates emp oyed in forming the hinge between the end panel and the under 4 frame of the car. y Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the hinge forming T links, and

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a pair of angle plates for hinging the T link to the end sill. Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the corner posts of the car, indicated at 10, 10, consist preferably of heavy angle bars. The side walls 11, which are shown as made of wood,'are secured between the corner posts 10 and supplemental inner post members 12. 13 indicates the endsill proper of the car shown as consisting of afchannel bar. Tothe upper flange of the channel bar is secured an extension plate 14, forming, in effect, part whichextends to thecorner posts 10 and to flange 15 of sill member 14:.

It will be evident that my-invention is not limited to the precise details of construction above described. The door and its hin g mechanism, to .behereinafter 'descri ed might be applied, for example, to a car of all steelconstruction instead of to the car of the type shownin the drawing. In fact, it is applicable to any of the common types of drop end gondola cars.

The end panel or hinged end of the car comprises, preferably, a horizontally corrugated sheet of metal 17 to the outside of which is riveted, at suitable intervals-a preferably fiat metal sheet 18. The upper margin of the panel is suitably reinforced preferably by an angle bar 19, the ends of which are secured b small angles 20 to the edges of one of sai metal sheets, for example, the outer sheet 18. With the end panel so constructed, it will be very stron and rigid. This is desirable both so that it will withstand cargo thrusts and pressures when in upright position, and so that it will also carry, without being crushed or injured, the

heavy loads which are likely'to be put upon it when folded down on the floor of the car. For example, when the car is loaded with rails, beams or girders which are longer than the interior longitudinal dimension of the car, the ends are folded down on, the floor and the girders, or other such articles, rest with their extremities upon such end panels. In the construction" described the corrugations give rigidity to the panelwhich is increased by the expedient of riveting the flat sheet at intervals to the corrugations-of the corrugated sheet. 7 p i The panel is hinged to the under frame of the car by two link hinges, each constructed.

preferably as follows: 22 is a T-shaped link having an eye 23 pivoted by a bolt 24:

between angular supports 25 (Fig. '7) which are riveted to .the sill plate 14 and stand against the flange l5. The link extends through alining slots 26 formed in the flange 15 and the lower edges of sheetsi17 1S. and through a slot '27 in a U-shaped' keeper plate 28 which/has legs of unequal length, the longer-leg :29 beingriveted to the lowermost corrugation 30 of sheet 17','the shorter leg being'formed withears 31 riveted to the flat marginal portions of sheets 17 and 18. The link 22 has a vcross-piece 32 which lies within the space inclosed by the keeper plate and the lower edgeof the panel.

The curved portions 33 of the U-shaped keepers 28 rest on the flooring 16 of the car, forming rounded hearings on which the panel may turn when it is folded up or down.

It will'be seen that when the car is loaded with pulverulent or granular material ,there is no danger of the hinge being clogged.

The pivoted ends of the links are located.

outside of the car. The spaces between the keeper plates and the inner lower margin of the panel are large enough so that the freedom of movement of the inner ends of the links cannot be hampered even if the material should pack into these spaces. Besides this, the keeper plates being relatively narrow and open at both ends, any material that gets in behind them will be loosened.

and fall out when one starts to fold down the panel. The T-shaped link provides with its keeper supporting bracket a hinge consisting of'a very few parts of strong and position,

durable construction. F urthermore, with the head ofthe T against the keeper which is'the preferred arangement, the hinge forms -a brace for the panel, transmitting the thrust of the cargo on the inside of the end panel to the end sill, thereby lessening the tendency of the end to bulge."

The panel is held in its upright position against the end posts 10 by any suitable The construction is such that the panel can .take very heavy loads when m this position,

without being crushed, broken or otherwise injured.

While I have described my invention in a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that modifications might be made without departure from the principles of the invention. Therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the preelse constructions, arrangements and devices shown and described except so far as expressed in the claims. By the term corner post as used in the claimsI intend any upright member atthe endof the car againstwhich'the end I claim I 1. In a drop end gondola car, the combination with the corner posts and flooring of the car, of an end panel, the lower edge of which is supported on the flooring when the panel is in upright position, and hinge forming elements connected with the lower edge of the panel and with the car at points outside of said end panel.

2. In a drop end gondola car, the combi-- nation with the corner posts'and flooring of thecar,' the latter extending out to the corner posts, of an end panel, and hinge forming elements connected with the lower edge of'the panel and with the carat points outside of said end panel.

3. In a drop end gondola car, the combination with the corner posts and end sill of the car, the latter extending outwardly beyond the corner posts. of an end panel. and

,means for hinglng the lower ends of the panel bears when in its raised at points outside of said end panel and pro]ecting through said slot; in the same.

. gin of the panel through the slots of which the links project, said links being formed with cross-pieces which lie between the panel and said keeper plates.

6. In a drop end gondola car, in combination, the cornerposts of the car, an end sill on the outside of the corner posts having an upwardly extending flange which lies against said corner posts, an end panel, keeper plates on the inner lower margin of the end panel, said panel, flange and keeper plates being formed with alining slots, and links pivoted to the end sill, extending through said slots, and furnished with means providing a pivotal connection be-- tween said links and the panel.

7. In a drop end gondola car, in combination, the corner posts of the car, an end sill on the outside of the corner posts having an upwardly extending flange which lies against said corner posts an end panel, keeper plates on the inner lower margin of the end panel, said panel, flange and keeper plates being formed with alining slots, and links pivoted to the end sill, extending through said slots, and provided with crosspieces which lie in the spaces between said keeper plates and panel.

8. In a drop end gondola car, in combination, the corner posts-of a car, an end sill outside said corner posts having an upstanding flange lying against the outside of the posts, an end panel, said panel and flange beingformed with alining slots, keeper plates On the inner lower margin of the panel, and links pivoted to the sill, extending through said slots and provided with cross-pieces which lie between said keeper plates and the end panel.

9. In a drop end gondola car, 1n comb1-- nation, the corner posts of the car, an end sill on the outside of said corner posts having an upstanding flange bearing agalnst the outside of the corner posts, keeper plates on the inner lower margin of the panel, said keeper plates, panel and flange being formed with alining slots, links extendin through said slots and provided with crosspieces lying between the keeper plates-and panel, and angularsupports secured to the end sill against said upstanding flange to which the outer ends of said links are pivoted.

10; The combination with the under frame of a drop end gondola car, of an end panel slotted atits lower edge comprising a horizontally corrugated metal sheet, links pivoted to the under frame of the car outside 11. The combination with the under frame 7 and flooring of a drop end gondola car, of an end panel formed with slots in its lower 'edge comprising a horizontally corrugated metal sheet, links pivoted to the under frame of the car outside of said end panel, extending through said slots, and formed on'their inner ends with cross-pieces, and

U-shaped keeper plates, the edges of which are secured to the lower edge of the panel and the lowermost corrugation thereof respectively, the rounded portions of the keeper plates resting on the flooring of the car when said panel is in upright position.

12. The combination with the under frame and flooring of a drop end gondola car, of an end panel comprising a horizontally corrugated sheet, U -shaped keeper plates having legs of unequal length, the short length being connected with the edge of the panel and the longer leg to the lowermost corrugation thereof, the intervening curved portion of the keeper plates providing a rocking bearing supporting the panel on the flooring of the car, and hinge forming elements pivoted to the under frame of the car outside of said end panel, the. inner ends of which are provided with cross-pieces lying between the keeper plates and panel.

13. The combination with the under'frame and flooring of a drop end gondola car, of an end panel, hinge forming links pivoted to the under frame of the car outside of said panel, and keeper plates providing a hinged engagement between the inner ends of the links and the lower edge of the panel, said keeper plates having rounded portions formporting the panel on the floor.

14. The combination with the under frame and corner posts of a drop end gondola car; of an end panel comprising a corrugated metal sheet, a flat sheet riveted at intervals to said corrugated sheet, and means providing marginal flanges on the side and upper edges of the panel; and means for hinging the lower edge of the panel to the under frame of the car.

15. In a drop end gondola car, the combination of a folding end panel and a hinge for the same comprising a T-shaped link, means providing a pivotal connection between the head of the link and the panel,

end of the link on the can and means for pivotally mounting the other I T6; In 'a drop end gondola car, the combination of a folding end panel and a hingefor the same comprising a T-shaped link,

a' keeper plate on the panel providing a 1 ivotal connection between the head of the ink and the panel, and means for pivotally mountingthe other end of the link on the car.

I 17 In a drop end gondola car, the combination of a folding *end panel and a hinge for the same comprising a T-shaped link,

means providing a' pivotal connection beand spacedfsnpportin'g brackets on the car tween the head of the link and the panel,

fon 'pivotally attaching thereto the other end of the -link.

18. In a'drop end gondolacar, the combination of a folding end panel and a hinge 'for the' same comprising a T-shapjed link, rov iding a' keeper plates on the panel pivotal connection between the head of the 1 grid of the link on the car. a 19. The combination with the end sill and link and thepanel, and spaced supporting brackets for pivotally mounting the othe folding end panel of a drop end gondola car, of a hinge for the panel comprising a T- shaped link, a keeper plate 'onthe panel providing a pivotal connection between the head of the link and said panel, and spaced supporting brackets on the end sill providing a pivotal connection for the other end of the link. a

'21. The combination with the end sill and folding end panel of a .dropend gondola car, said panel being formed on its lower edge with a pair of slots, of hinges for said.

panel comprising, in each case, a T-shaped link adapted to extend through one of said slots, keeper plates on the inside of the panel for providing a pivotal connectionbetween the head of the link and .the panel, and means on the. end sill providing a pivotal connection between the other end of the link and the sill.

' SIDNEY H. MIC AELS. 

